Clearing Old XP

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Delete files ending in the extension .tmp Use the Windows Search function (Start→Search) to locate and delete the files. In this step, setup wants to know the names of the users who will use Windows XP so it can setup individual accounts for each user. We're almost there! If the computer is a brand name machine, hunt down the manufacturer's website for any hint of a recovery CD and see if that'll do the trick.

A file recovery program or special hardware can easily recover the information. Display the My Computer window, right-click a drive, and choose Properties; on the Tools tab, click Check Now. share|improve this answer edited Oct 5 '10 at 18:08 answered Oct 5 '10 at 17:56 Nifle 24.6k1884122 Thanks @Nifle. You might consider removing and physically destroying it if the data is that sensitive.

How To Erase Everything On Windows Xp

Bush make torture legal and what did Obama undo? NTFS is more stable and secure than FAT and is always the recommended choice for a new Windows XP installation.

Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight the line that says Format Flag Permalink This was helpful (0) Collapse - Did you mean to reply to the original post?

Painfully cumbersome, but effective. Please can you advise on the most comprehensive hard drive erasing software?Are there any limitiations to the software recommended?You recommendations are appreciated.ThanksChris Discussion is locked Flag Permalink You are posting a Until that happens the files can easily be recovered using tools like GetDataBack & PC Inspector File Recovery. How To Delete Everything On Windows Xp Without Cd Windows XP will now begin installing.

Reinstall the OS. 'Quickest' way? How To Wipe Windows Xp To Factory Settings Posting your Make and exact Model may prompt us for more suggestions. In this step, Windows XP Setup warns that the partition you are trying to delete is a system partition that may contain Windows XP. http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-All-Files-from-a-Computer-Running-Windows-XP Your key if it's on the computer itself (like on a sticker or something) may not be usable if you use a different XP CD/DVD.

This step usually only takes a few minutes and no user This will become the size of the C drive, the main drive on your PC that Windows XP will install to. EDIT Edit this Article Home » Categories » Computers and Electronics » Operating Systems » Windows » XP Instructions ArticleEditDiscuss Edit ArticlewikiHow to Clear All Files from a Computer Running Windows

How To Wipe Windows Xp To Factory Settings

Profession OEM and Pro Retail, etc. If you have more than one partition on a physical hard drive, you'll need to format those additional drives as well if you want to consider the entire physical disk as How To Erase Everything On Windows Xp Now, because the magnetic change is not 100% made with one pass of the heads, a very sensitive instrument might be able to pick up the ones and zeros anyway. How To Wipe A Windows Xp Computer Without Disc I'd say, your best bet is to look for a recovery disc from the manufacturer and try reinstalling Windows that way.

Get video. Your PC will automatically restart and proceed to load Windows XP for the first time.

25 Accept Automatic Display Settings Adjustment Windows XP Clean Install - Step 25 of 34. Run Ubuntu, Linux Mint, or if primarily for internet Peppermint Linux from a LiveCD for a day or so and install once they fall in love. To free up some space on your hard drive, use the tips in the following table: What to Do How to Do It Empty the Recycle bin Right-click the Recycle bin How To Wipe A Hard Drive Windows Xp Without Cd

So, my recommendation for simple purposes would be to look at the drive for the manufacturer's name and visit their web site for such a utility. The Windows XP installation will now finalize. I can only assume it was installed from a retail copy, and therefore there is no way to recover it to factory settings. for a lot more on this.

Or at least the back up the Program Files. Wipe Hard Drive Windows Xp Command Prompt archive A data file kept for historical reasons. See my Free File Shredder Software Programs list for programs that "destroy" individual files on an as-needed basis.Many of those "shredder" programs also do what's called a free space wipe, which

Using that copy will delete all files and restore the computer to its "new" state.

Ask ! Best advice is to use the restore partition (if it has one) or clean Install of XP and then when it is done restoring or the clean install is done, overwrite Log into that new account and delete any other user accounts (do not delete the admin or guest accounts) Uninstall any software you don't want to pass on. Erase Hard Drive Windows Xp Command Prompt Note also that Eraser also handles alternate data streams, and so does CCleaner.

share|improve this answer answered Oct 4 '10 at 18:53 Dennis 4,3331527 I think she is looking to sell the computer to another friend, who probably wouldn't know what to Windows XP is now loading for the first time. Do a IE7-8-9 reset, then delete browsing history (select all the boxes) Use index.dat suite to delete any dat files it finds,(requires selecting them to be deleted on a reboot) http://support.it-mate.co.uk/?mode=Products&p=index.datsuite See my How to Wipe a Hard Drive with DBAN tutorial if you're nervous about hard drive wiping or prefer a more detailed walkthrough (yes, with screenshots).Note: There are actually several

The next screen that appears is the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen. Display the My Computer window, right-click a drive, and choose Properties; on the Tools tab, click Defragment Now. There's Home OEM and Home Retail. Registration with Microsoft is optional, but if you'd like to do that now, choose Yes, I'd like to register with Microsoft now, click Next -> and follow the instructions to register.

Otherwise, choose No, not

That's why you need to visit each location on the disk with a magnetic device to alter the molecular lineup of the magnetic particles. Please enter a valid email address. If you wish to make changes, click on the Details... button and follow the directions given to install new input languages or change input methods.

After you've made any changes, or if you've up vote 21 down vote favorite 10 I have a friend who wants to sell their computer, but obviously all personal information and software that it is on it needs to

Delete Compressed Files in Windows XP How to delete write protected files in xp How to delete write protected files in xp More resources Tom's Hardware Around the World Tom's Hardware This is also the drive that all of your software and data will probably reside on unless you have additional partitions set aside for those purposes.

Unless you are planning on Delete or archive files ending in the extension .bak or .old Use the Windows Search function (Start→Search) to locate the files.